Mouthpiece for telephones.



No.'63l,08l. Patented Aug. l5, 1899` A. LAEMMEL, MOUTHPIECE FURTELEPHUNES.

(Application led Apr. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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ALBERT LAEMMEL, OF NE7 YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOHN V. LUFF, OF SAMEPLACE.

NIOUTHPIECE FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 631,081, dated August15, 1899. Application tiled April 28, 1899. Serial No. 714,785. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom it muy concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT LAEMMEL, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andState of New York, have made and invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mouthpieces for Telephones, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in mouthpieces for telephones,and more particularly to a detachable or removable lining therefor.

The objection has been made from time to those in public places, thatdan ger of contamination exists by reason of the presence of diseasegerms which attach themselves to the mouthpiece after being exhaled fromthe breath of those using the instrument. To overcome this objection,various means have been employed fordestroying any germs that might beexhaled into the mouthpiece-as, for instance, lining the mouthpiece withan absorbent material, such material being saturated or moistened with agerm-destroying liquid or substance. Again, netting moistened withcertain liquids has been stretched across the front end of themouthpiece; but such devices have met with no success, principally onaccount of the necessity of keeping the material moistened orimpregnated with the liquid or chemical substance, as unless such isdone the felt lining or netting is more apt to receive and retain thedisease germs than would the hard-rubber mouthpiece if said lining ornetting were entirely omitted.

The object of my invention is to provide a lining which may be readilyand easily applied to or removed from the mouthpiece and made ofwaterproofmaterial in order that it may be detached from time to timeand washed without damage or deterioration and again readily attached inplace.

With these and other ends in view my invention consists of a lining madeof celluloid or similar material and of substantially the same size andshape as the mouthpiece, its outer edge being flanged or curled over inorder to grasp the outer extreme edge of the hard-rubber mouthpiece.

My invention further consists in certain tion.

novel features of construction, as will be hereinafter fully described,and pointed out in the claim,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved lining detached from the mouthpiece of the telephone. Fig. 2 isa side view of a telephone-transmitter having the mouthpiece shown insection and my improved lining attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a face viewof a modification of my improved lining detached from the mouthpiece.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a bracket or support for atelephone-transmitter B, the latter having screwed or otherwise securedto the face thereof the mouthpiece C, these parts being constructed andarranged in the ordinary manner and with which those skilled in the artare perfectly familiar.

D represents my improved lining-piece, which, as illustrated, is made inthe form or shape of a funnel and corresponds in size and shape to theinner side of the mouthpiece C, the narrow restricted end a of the neckb preferably abutting against the perforated diaphragm c of themouthpiece O when the lining is in its proper position. The larger endof the lining D is turned or curled over, as shown at d, forming aflange for grasping or gripping the lining-piece to the outer edge ofthe mouthpiece O and retaining it in this posi- This lining is made of aWaterproof substance, preferably celluloid, which allows of its beingcleansed or washed by water or other liquids without in any wayaffecting the material of which the lining is made. Further, by formingthe lining of Celluloid it is possessed of a certain amount ofelasticity, which allows it to be readily attached to and removed fromthe mouthpiece, and, again, when made of this substance may be of anydesired color-as, for instance, white, thereby forming a pleasingcontrast to the black hardrubber mouthpiece and lending to the latter acleanly and inviting appearance. v

In Fig. 3 I have shown afront or face view of the lining-piece, thenarrow or restricted end of which is formed with a perforated diaphragmc, the perforations f corresponding in number, size, and position withthose of the perforated diaphragm c of the mouthpiece O,

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the lining in this instance covering the entire inner surface of thelatter.

It will be understood from the above that my invention is exceedinglysimple, that it overcomes the objections urged against the other devicesemployed for the same purpose, and that it is capable of being instantlyattached to or removed from the mouthpieces now in general use withoutthe aid of screws or other external locking appliances and Without inany Way mutilating or alteringr said mouthpiece, and, finally, thatbeing of a non-absorbent material it may be Washed or cleansed as oftenas desired, and thereby prevent the secretion or attachment of diseasegerms.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

A removable lining adapted to fit within the mouthpiece of a telephone,and molded or formed of one piece of Celluloid, said lining being ofsubstantially the same shape as the mouthpiece to which it is fitted,and pro-

